JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Jan. 12, 2013) – With the ETSU Lady Bucs looking to improve to .500 in Atlantic Sun play, Florida Gulf Coast showed why they are in first place in the league and sport an unblemished conference record with a 97-60 dismantling of ETSU on Saturday afternoon inside the ETSU/MSHA Athletics Center.

FGCU was able to set the NCAA Division I women’s basketball record with 22 made three-point field goals. The previous record was 21, with the most recent performance being from FGCU as well, draining 21 on Nov. 28, 2011 against Webber International which tied the record first set by New Mexico State against Louisiana-Lafayette on Feb. 23, 2002.

With the loss, ETSU drops to 3-8 overall and 1-3 in Atlantic Sun play, while FGCU improves to 12-5 overall and 5-0 in league action.

“It got out of hand early,” head coach Karen Kemp said. “In the last few days in practice, I felt so good about the preparation that we had and the work we had done in practice, then today to come out and allow wide-open threes. We just have got to come together. It is still early, we have only played four conference games and we have got 14 more to go. If this team stays focused and continues to work hard, our best basketball is definitely ahead of us. We are too talented and too athletic to be at the bottom of the league when conference tournament time comes around.”

In ETSU’s first game in the Dome since Nov. 30, each team struggled to find their groove early from the field with no made field goals through the first three minutes. Soon after, FGCU found their spark with their first made field goal, a three pointer, with 16:22 remaining in the first half. This trifecta was just the beginning of a 31-11 Eagle run from 16:22 to five minutes left in the period. The Lady Bucs were able to add some baskets late in the half but FGCU’s efficient offense had their way throughout the period, resulting in a 51-25 Eagle advantage at intermission.

The second half looked much like the first with FGCU continuing to fire successfully from downtown. ETSU faced their biggest deficit at the 6:44 mark left in the game, a 45-point Eagle lead. Moments after FGCU increased their lead, the Lady Bucs did not quit and subsequently went on a run of their own, a 14-5 streak up until a little over two minutes left in the game. The 90-67 defeat is ETSU’s largest margin of defeat since being crushed by the North Carolina Tar Heels, 85-41, on Dec. 28.

FGCU had four players in double-figures, headlined by Betsy Adams who posted a game-high 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 7-of-12 from three. Anthi Chatzigiakoumi added 15 points, while Sarah Hansen and Joyce Iamstrong each contributed 12 points. Meanwhile, ETSU got a team-high 16 points and a game-high eight rebounds from Destiny Mitchell (Bluffton, Ga.), while Brianna McQueen (Jonesboro, Ga.) pitched in 11 points and four rebounds in the losing effort.

Shooting a strong 55.9 percent from the field (33-of-59) and a staggering 51.2 percent (22-of-43) from behind the arc, FGCU also held advantages in free throw shooting with 81.8 percent (9-of-11), as well as 29 points off of ETSU’s 19 turnovers. The Eagles also held advantages in fast break points (10-7) and bench points (42-26).

Meanwhile, ETSU shot a respectable, but not comparable, 41.8 percent (23-of-55) from the field and hoisted only three three pointers, while making two of them. The Lady Bucs also shot 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from the charity stripe. ETSU did outrebound FGCU (34-26), and also held advantages in points in the paint (30-20) and second chance points (11-9).

The Lady Bucs will continue home A-Sun action on Monday, Jan. 14, when they welcome Stetson to the ETSU/MSHA Athletics Center at 7 p.m. Click here for tickets.

ETSU fans wanting to receive Buccaneer news, score updates, in-game promotions and much more sent to their mobile device can do so by signing up for “Buc Updates.” Click here to sign up today!